Licks Cycles: 2147cc Audette Velos BikeBound

“I’ve by no means had a motorbike set my soul on fireplace just like the Velos.”

These are the phrases of our good friend and famed motorbike designer Kar Lee, a veteran of Bike, Efficiency Bikes, and Sensible Sportbikes who’s designed and ridden such machines because the 382-hp Superbusa. When Kar speaks, we hear, and such phrases from him are excessive reward certainly.

The Velos (Greek for arrow) is the creation of Tony Audette, a 32-year-old engineer and Marine Corps fight veteran who was a part of the “Exiled 8” — an eight-man USMC squad who have been misplaced on their firm roster in the course of the 2011 draw-down and spent weeks on their very own in Afghanistan with no assist, contending with sandstorms, dwindling provides, IEDs, and insurgents.

Of the seven members who made it residence safely, all volunteered to stay on lively obligation — nevertheless, they ended up being transitioned to the reserves. Says Tony:

“I didn’t know what to do. I’d been a Marine all my grownup life, and wasn’t ready for thus all of a sudden being instructed to sit down on the sidelines. In order 4 of the eight guys that I used to be with all got here from Connecticut, I figured I’d head there for some future companionship.”

There, bikes helped Tony discover his method. Whereas preventing within the wilds of Afghanistan, he’d determined to get again to his two-wheeled roots upon his return stateside.

“I purchased my first motorbike, a 1972 Honda CL350, after I was 14 and rebuilt it with my dad over the following 12 months till I might legally journey it. From there I fell in love with the engineering and mechanics of how bikes work.”

Figuring out of a former convent in CT, Tony rebuilt a 1975 Honda CB750 and went again to highschool, graduating from Central Connecticut with a level in Mechanical Engineering. He labored within the prototyping workshop of O.F. Mossberg & Sons, in Dynamic Parts (swashplates, spindles, sleeves, every little thing that spins quick on the rotor head besides the blades) at helicopter producer Sikorsky, and went on to grow to be the lead engineer on the Curtiss Bikes Zeus — the primary all-electric mannequin from the famed American producer previously generally known as Accomplice Bikes.

Nonetheless, he was itching to forge his personal path within the motorbike world:

“After a couple of years within the trade working for another person, I made a decision to open my very own store in order that I might design a motorbike utterly freed from compromises. Our store relies out of Canton, CT.”

A results of 3.5 years of improvement, that motorbike is the Audette Velos, constructed round a extremely modified 2147cc Indian Thunder Stroke V-twin with a proprietary chassis and 120+ proprietary CNC components.

“Aside from the engine and some computer systems, the one different components not particular to the Velos are the wheels, tires, and brakes.”

The Velos boasts 117 hp, a stump-pulling 156 ft-lbs of torque, and weighs simply 464 lbs moist. The design is impressed by early American bikes just like the 1915 Iver Johnson, and the geometry (61.5″ wheelbase, 26º rake, 4.31″ path) was developed for back-road blasting, with 37º lean out there in left-handers:

“I designed and engineered this motorbike platform from the bottom as much as be the last word instance of what a purpose-built, American Streetfighter must be.”

Tony offered lots of his possessions to make the bike a actuality. Whereas the bottom worth is a cool $89,000, every Velos is specifically tailor-made to the proprietor, from bodily therapist consultations to tweak the ergonomics to suspension settings, engine tuning, and paint scheme.

We’re hoping to line up a take a look at journey on the demo bike, however for now, we’ll must belief the phrases of Sir Alan Cathcart:

“Cliché it could be, if ever a motorbike deserved to be referred to as a two-wheeled equal of the legendary Shelby Cobra 427 land sled, it’s the Velos – a motorbike whose qualities are redolent of a bygone age. This minimalist motorbike with muscle is one tremendous fascinating set of wheels.”

Beneath, we speak to Tony himself for the complete story on this all-American muscle bike.

Audette Velos: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

My title is Tony Audette. I purchased my first motorbike, a 1972 Honda CL350, after I was 14 and rebuilt it with my dad over the following 12 months till I might legally journey it. From there I fell in love with the engineering and mechanics of how bikes work.

Once I returned residence from Afghanistan, I bought a 1975 CB750 and utterly tore it aside and rebuilt it as a re-acclimation to life once more. After working as a producing engineer within the aerospace and firearms trade, I moved profession paths to coincide with my love of bikes. After a couple of years within the trade working for another person, I made a decision to open my very own store in order that I might design a motorbike utterly freed from compromises. Our store relies out of Canton, CT.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?

I all the time begin off with the identical bike, or motor, an Indian Thunderstroke engine. By the point I’m by way of with motorwork the one points I haven’t touched is the 2 engine casings and the transmission.

Our body is a very proprietary design, developed from the bottom as much as be a purpose-built streetfighter to tear up your favourite again roads. Aside from the engine and some computer systems, the one different components not particular to the Velos are the wheels, tires, and brakes.

• Any thought of horsepower, weight, and/or efficiency numbers?

I designed and engineered this motorbike platform from the bottom as much as be the last word instance of what a purpose-built, American Streetfighter must be. The overall engineering time was 3.5 years. I began with an Indian Thunderstroke engine, took it aside, 3D scanned it, and reverse-engineered it to a CAD mannequin. After 2.5 years of improvement, I 3D-printed a 1:1 scale mannequin. This led to a further 12 months of design to get each facet good. Every Velos has over 120 proprietary CNC machined components.

The Velos platform was designed to be purpose-built for every particular person proprietor. Every Velos proprietor has an ergonomic session with a bodily therapist the place their customized seating, hand, and foot controls are specified. The session contains buyer particular colour pallet and paint scheme together with customized engine efficiency, suspension arrange, and different aesthetic finishes. As soon as finalized every Velos will get constructed with a 3–4-month turnaround time.

The Velos has a moist weight of 467lbs with a 2,147cc (131CI) engine producing 156 ft-lbs of torque and 117 hp. The 49º V-twin is related to the rear wheel by way of a 6-speed gearbox. A 4 US Gal gasoline tank is suspended within the proprietary twin-spar, internally braced C-Channel that’s CNC machined from plane grade aluminum.

Giving the rider confidence whereas dealing with the bike by way of the bends of their favourite again roads is the results of the 61.5″ wheelbase with a 26º rake and 4.31″ path. The design ethos of the Velos was to distill down the essence of what a motorbike must be, void of extra digital aids, refined fundamentals, stripped of any non-essentials, and with a snug driving place. Aesthetically impressed by early period American Bikes (ex: 1915 Iver Johnson).

• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to journey this bike?

The Velos is an unbelievable motorbike. Due to the precedence placed on ergonomics in the course of the design course of, you possibly can journey the Velos all day lengthy. The monstrous quantity of torque and flat torque curve signifies that the ability is immediately delivered to the rear wheel. The load and geometry of the bike makes for an extremely steady but extremely “flickable” motorbike.

The enjoyable of driving this bike has been second to none; it truly is one of the best motorbike I’ve ever ridden. I purposely stripped the motorbike of all non-essential computer systems and screens to provide the rider a detachment from the related world and to take pleasure in a pure analog expertise.

Sir Allan Cathcart stated this from his journey evaluation in Motokari and Australian MCN:

“A brilliant fascinating set of wheels.”
“Mild steering, straightforward dealing with, streetfighter on steroids, so downright thrilling to journey.”
“It steers and stops so impeccably effectively, and he’s obtained the steering geometry spot on.”

Kar Lee of MotoKandi has stated, “I’ve by no means had a motorbike set my soul on fireplace just like the Velos.”

• Was there something performed throughout this construct that you’re notably pleased with?

The kickstand, and the seat. I all the time hated the concept of carrying round a kickstand puck, so I made the kickstand have a big floor space to negate the necessity for the puck — everybody feedback on it.

The seat I pulled inspiration from a Twenties tractor seat the place farmers wanted to sit down within the saddle day in and time out. This was top-of-the-line selections I’ve ever made.

• Is there anybody you’d wish to thank?

My household and particularly my spouse, Jackie Oates, for all the time being by my aspect.
Ryan Coligan at C3 V-twin for welding the exhausts.
Craig Rogers at B&C Powder Coating.
Guin Simpson at Black Sew Label.
Kar Lee at MotoKandi for serving to with rendering in the course of the design and continued assist.
The crew at RaceTech Suspension and Rotobox wheels.